Mac Rumble, Alcona franchisee of M&M Meats, donated six bags full of food to the Deafblind Services of Ontario that operates three Innisfil homes, as part of National Family Dinner Night on Sept. 18.
“They are my favourite charity,” said Rumble, who operates the store in Crossroads Plaza along with his wife, Dianne. Joining Rumble were residents Donna McLean, Peter Majeen and Charlene Martin, accompanied by key interveners Dona Pooley, Tamara Cassman and Cheryl Jamieson. “This donation means a great deal to our organization, said team leader Lisa Radley.
“M&M is very supportive of us. They’ve done a wonderful job and the Rumbles are great with our staff and residents.” M&M donated $1 to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for every person who registers for the Sept. 18 event.
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The new TD Financial Group’s full-service centre on Barrie's Collier Street adds comprehensive customer service that links local investors to the world economy, says economist and Ward 2 Coun. Jeff Lehman.
It is a key element in Barrie’s downtown revitalization, and the creation of a financial district in the hub of Central Ontario’s urban growth centre, he said.
Along with the Scotiabank centre literally across the street, “they are anchors of the transformation of Collier Street and the creation of a commercial core,” Lehman told the crowd at the grand-opening celebrations.
With a full-service bank branch on the first floor, topped by commercial banking on the second floor and TD Waterhouse investment services on the third, the TD Financial Group building is a showpiece. The TD Waterhouse ticker tape sets the mood for even the bank branch, as it reminds customers they are being served by those who stay abreast of happenings internationally.
“It really gives you the feel out on the street things are happening, that this is an emerging financial centre, that there are people who play parts in the world economy,” said Lehman, who represents the downtown area on city council.
TD Waterhouse manager Mark Lyon said he’s excited about the potential in Barrie; he moved here this summer.
“I love this community. It’s a wonderful place,” he said, adding the Barrie team is committed to more than just injecting value into their jobs. “We’re very proud to be here.”
The bank presented Autism Ontario and the Barrie Public Library with cheques for $5,000.
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Red Leaves, a new, year-round luxury resort located on Lake Rosseau waterfront in Muskoka, was to become an outdoor classroom for a group of first-year tourism students from Georgian College’s Barrie Campus. The 10 students were to study at the resort from Oct. 19-24, in a hands-on program designed to showcase the potential for careers that combine tourism and nature.
The course, developed by Robin Tapley, Red Leaves’ Director of Leisure Development, is taught by several members of the Red Leaves team, including Tapley; environmentalist Hap Wilson; Margaret Walton, lead planner for Red Leaves and a senior partner at the firm Planscape; and Kristi Panko, the resort community’s marketing specialist.
It includes a number of open-air experiences, from wilderness photography and how-to sessions on the development of trails to a guided astronomy experience.
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Police are warning the public not to get steamrolled by a bogus paving company targeting the elderly.
“These predators prey upon seniors and use intimidation and high pressure to con them into doling out hundreds and even thousands of dollars in cash,” Southern Georgian Bay OPP stated in a Sept. 16 press release.
The “fly-by-night contractors” go door-to-door stating they have a partial load of blacktop left over from another job, and offering to resurface the intended victim’s driveway at a bargain price.
Only when the work is complete do they up the price.
Anyone who suspects they have been contacted by one of these scam artists can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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CIBC is opening a new 6,130-square-foot full-service branch at Yonge Street and Big Bay Point Road next spring.
"Barrie is one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario and we are looking forward to being a part of this growth," said Sylvain Vinet, senior vice-president of Eastern Canada for CIBC retail markets. "With extended hours and CIBC's full range of financial products and advisory solutions, our clients will benefit from greater flexibility, access and choice in managing their banking needs."
The new branch will feature state of the art, barrier-free banking facilities with longer hours, including evenings and Saturdays. Clients will have the added convenience of four ABMs, including a drive-thru.
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Community Link North Simcoe’s Transportation Linking Communities (TLC) program will receive $3,972 as part of the settlement in a class-action lawsuit.
The suit involves manufacturers of a rubber product known as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer).
The settlement stems from a price-fixing case that resulted in Canadian manufacturers paying more for EPDM, which is used in automotive weather-stripping, garden and appliance hoses, and electrical insulation.
“This is one way for the courts to compensate consumers affected by class-action lawsuits, since there is no way to track them down,” Garry Morehouse, the Huronia Communities Foundation’s executive director, stated in a press release.
The TLC program is a volunteer-based transportation initiative for seniors and those without other means of transportation. Most rides are for medical purposes, but others are for basic needs, recreation, volunteering and more.
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The management and staff of Lake St. John Airport/Orillia Aviation have announced the purchase of the business by Karen and Mike Cogo. Lake St. John airport is a year-round facility with both paved and grass runways and is one of the busiest float plane water access facilities in Canada, officials noted.
Orillia Aviation is also a repair and maintenance facility and an authorized Cessna parts distributor.


